NEWS RELEASE
October 1, 2020
Montgomery Man Who Killed Good Samaritan While Driving Under the Influence Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison
Montgomery County, Ala. – Michael Selvy Eason, who was driving under the influence when he struck and killed a Montgomery motorist who had pulled over to help the driver of a stranded vehicle, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for manslaughter, District Attorney Daryl Bailey announced.
On the evening of December 9, 2017, Carwin Joe Purifoy was driving on Troy Highway when he stopped to help two motorists whose vehicle had become stuck in the median. Just after helping pull the stuck vehicle out of the median, Purifoy was struck and killed by a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Eason.
An investigation by the Montgomery Police Department determined that Eason had been driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the wreck, with a blood alcohol content more than twice the legal limit (0.18). Less than two months before he struck and killed Purifoy, Eason had completed two years of probation for his fourth DUI conviction.
A Montgomery County Grand Jury indicted Eason on the manslaughter charge, which he pled guilty to on February 25, 2020. Today, Presiding Judge Johnny Hardwick sentenced Eason to serve 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed under the law.
District Attorney Daryl Bailey expressed his appreciation to Deputy District Attorney Sean McTear and the Montgomery Police Department for their work on this case.
District Attorney Bailey said: “The grief resulting from a drunk driving crash is unfathomable. The loss is sudden and unanticipated, the death is violent, and the crime is senseless. I am proud that my office was able to obtain justice for Mr. Purifoy, who was being a Good Samaritan when his life was tragically cut short. My office is also grateful to Judge Hardwick for giving Michael Selvy Eason the maximum sentence allowed. Our roadways are a little safer now that this habitual DUI offender is off the streets.”